Mývatn-Laxá (524)
Iceland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Mývatn-Laxá
Central coordinates: Latitude: 65.6000, Longitude: -17.0000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 310
Area of KBA (km2): 705.8993
Protected area coverage (%): 87.92
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow eutrophic lake (Mývatn) with many islands and fed by cold and thermal springs. There are numerous small lakes, pools, bogs and sedge marshes (Carex, Eriophorum) in the surrounding area. The Laxá river drains the lake into Skjálfandi bay. `Rocky areas' here are lava. Land-uses include farming, fishing, energy production (hydroelectric and geothermal), mining and tourism.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on a regular basis. Some duck species˜Anas penelope, Aythya fuligula and Aythya marila˜breed at higher densities than anywhere else in Europe. Other notable birds include diverse breeding waterbirds, raptors and passerines, and, outside the breeding season, moulting Mergus merganser (365 birds; mean 1975-1989).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 10 | |
| Shrubland | 30 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The lake is threatened by commercial dredging for diatomite, by power-generation operations, and by urbanization. Fishing and tourism disturb birds and diving waterbirds are also killed in fishing nets. Erosion in the area is excessive. There is a research station at Skútustadir run by the Ministry of Environment.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future |